A genetic modification formula, used by the Company, is capable of giving special abilities to people who don't have them naturally. The formula consisted of three parts: two halves of a schematic document placed in the care of Kaito Nakamura and Angela Petrelli, and a catalyst, held within the the body of Hiro Nakamura. Mohinder Suresh created a genetic modification formula on his own, but his version lacked the catalyst, resulting in negative side-effects. The physical formula was destroyed by Peter and Flint and the paper containing the written version was destroyed by Hiro. The catalyst was destroyed when Peter and Sylar killed Arthur Petrelli, its host at the time. A few vials containing the formula survived but have since been tracked down and destroyed.

About

In his apartment, Mohinder discusses with Maya a means to suppress her ability. He theorizes that her ability activation is connected to her adrenaline levels, not her blood. He separates her tyrosine and combines it with the dopamine produced by her adrenals, then waits to see if the enzymes attach to the cortisol. When they do, he synthesizes a serum that he believes will allow anyone to develop an evolved humanability. After viewing a successful test of the drug on some chromosomes, he creates enough to inject into himself. Maya asks Mohinder to not use the drug and to destroy it, calling it evil. Mohinder takes the readied needle to the docks to throw it away, but decides he can't throw the serum away. He injects himself and passes out. He is awakened by people wanting to mug him, but easily fights them off.

Hiro Nakamura watches a recording of his father entrusting him to a secret that has been passed down in the Nakamura family. The secret is inside a safe at Yamagato Industries, but Mr. Nakamura instructs Hiro not to open the safe, for the contents of which could destroy the world. Hiro opens the safe and finds one half of the complex formula. Suddenly, Daphne Millbrookzooms into the office and steals the formula. Hiro slows time to get the formula back, but she runs off to Berlin, Germany to get the other half. Hiro time travels to a near future to see what happens if he doesn't get the formula back from Daphne. He learns that Ando has acquired the ability to shoot red lightning, and he uses this ability to take the half-formula from Hiro. Additionally, Hiro learns that Tokyo is under mass chaos and destruction. Hiro returns to his time and vows to get the formula back.

Hiro and Ando pursue Daphne to a moviehaus in Berlin, where the transfer of the second half of the formula is supposed to occur. Hiro and Ando follow the Haitian and witness the transfer of the formula from a woman to the Haitian, who says that Mrs. Petrelli felt it needed to be moved to a more secure location. As the Haitian goes to leave, Hiro distracts him, and Ando knocks him out. Daphne grabs the briefcase and escapes at super speed, but when the Haitian revives, he captures Hiro and Ando before they can try to catch her.

The Haitian takes Hiro and Ando to Angela. Angela explains to them that the formula can give people abilities, and that the Company has lost now that another party has both pieces of the formula. Hiro and Ando swear that they will not rest until it is retrieved. She tells them that is a good thing, as Hiro has the key to unlocking the mystery anyway. Also, a future in which the formula is widely used is revealed. According to Future Peter, the formula is available for sale for anyone who can afford it, and for theft by those desperate enough. Flight is a commonly displayed ability granted by the formula in that future. Future Peter has painted and dreamed that the widespread use of the formula will ultimately lead to the destruction of the world and has been attempting to change the future to prevent this. In that future, Mohinder's version of the formula has mutated him into a monster-like being as a result of him getting it wrong.

Tracy informs Nathan that a doctor gave them their abilities, dispelling his belief that they were a gift from God. Nathan confronts Angela, and she explains that Nathan wasn't born with a certain genetic code, and that he along with others, including Tracy, Niki, and Barbara, were used in experiments when they were infants and were given the formula.

Mohinder and Arthur wonder why their combined findings have not produced a successful formula. Mohinder realizes that there is a catalyst necessary that can only be found in a human being. Angela later reveals that the catalyst was hidden in a human being by Kaito.

One of Mohinder's test subjects was injected with "Batch 38" of the formula. This caused abnormal finger lengths, scarring, abnormally high heart rate, and scales similar to Mohinder's.

In the past, Hiro learns that his mother Ishi had the catalyst before Claire did and that she wants to give it to her son before she dies, which she believes will happen that night. Kaito refuses and wants it transferred to baby Claire. Hiro visits his mother later and convinces her of his identity. She restores his memories with her healing power and he convinces her to transfer the catalyst to him, after which she dies. On the rooftop, Hiro encounters Claire and informs her of what he's done. Arthur then arrives, having himself traveled through time, and steals both Hiro's powers and the catalyst from him before throwing Hiro off the rooftop and sending Claire back to her own time. At Pinehearst, Arthur adds the catalyst to a batch of the formula that Mohinder has prepared and it is tested on a marine named Scott. As it's tested, Arthur is confronted by Peter, the Haitian, and Sylar and is killed by Peter and Sylar. The catalyst dies with him, leaving the only usable formula the one prepared before his death. The new formula works and imbues Scott with enhanced strength.

Peter, Knox and Flint team up to destroy the formula. Knox holds Nathan prisoner while Flint and Peter work on destroying the lab. Mohinder tries to convince them not to do it, but before he can inject himself with the formula to cure the problems with his ability, the syringe is stolen by Daphne allowing Ando to grant himself the ability to supercharge other people's powers. In the past Hiro with the help of his younger self steals the formula from the safe to destroy it, but Kaito catches him and tries to kill him. Hiro rips the formula in half, but before he can do more, he's rescued by Daphne and Ando (thanks to Ando's new power) leaving Kaito with the two halves of the formula. In the present Daphne and Hiro travel to Pinehearst and Hiro knocks out Tracy and steals the copy of the formula that's on paper. At Mohinder's lab in New York, he destroys it. At Pinehearst, Flint and Peter overturn a large container of the formula which washes over Mohinder, reversing the damage his imperfect version did to him. Mohinder flees while Flint and Peter destroy all the vials holding the formula, but before Flint can kill Peter and ignite the formula (which is highly flammable), Nathan knocks him out and fights Peter. Flint wakes up and ignites the formula. Peter finds an intact syringe containing the formula and seeing no choice, injects himself with it and -- after getting the power of flight thanks to his brother and his new ability -- flies himself and Nathan out of the building as the formula explodes, destroying Pinehearst.

Angela Petrelli interrogates Rachel Mills at a Primatech facility in Tappen, NJ. She asks Rachel about the serum that was at Pinehearst, but Rachel claims not to know anything about it. Angela then explains that the serum is dangerous and inferior, as it is not part of the program that recruited her.

Twelve hours earlier, Rachel was with Ryan Hanover and David Sullivan. Ryan gathers three vials of the serum and they begin to argue who should be injected first, when suddenly, an explosion goes off and the building starts to collapse.

Following the explosion at Pinehearst Headquarters, Ryan appears to Rachel and David, holding two of the three serum vials that had been given to them. He tells them he injected himself with one to aide an injury in his abdomen, and that he is going to keep the other vials. Rachel takes one away from him and injects David, who then begins to convulse and roar, much to Rachel and Ryan's amazement.

Later, as Angela asks her what she did with the serum, Rachel has a flashback of destroying the syringe that the serum was in, but still holding the intact vial of serum in her hand. She tells Angela, however, that she destroyed the entire serum.

In a gas station's bathroom, Rachel recalls how at Pinehearst, she had taken the vial of serum out of the syringe she broke and hid it inside her shoulder wound. Back in the present, Rachel removes the serum from her wound and redresses the bandage using her shirt to tie it up.

When Rachel exits the bathroom, Angela Petrelli is waiting to take the serum from her. Angela demands the serum from Rachel and Rachel gives it to her.

Driving away from the destroyed Pinehearst Headquarters, Tracy Strauss asks Mohinder if he can recreate the catalyzed formula. When Mohinder asks why he would do that, Tracy retorts that it is not important and the real question is if he can. Mohinder says that without a sample to isolate the catalyst, all he can do is create monsters like himself. When Tracy asks him what if he had a sample to work with, Mohinder asks where the sample would come from. Tracy lifts her skirt to reveal a vial of the formula, and says that this vial is probably the last in existence. She also points out that despite their faults, Arthur and Nathan were right: giving abilities to everyone in the world is the only way to save it. Tracy asks Mohinder to consider being a "hero", and further tries to lure him into the plan, saying that Mohinder will be recognized as the greatest man on earth. As Mohinder is about to give in, he snatches the formula from Tracy's hands and bails out of the car. He makes his way off the freeway and looks at the vial of the formula, asking himself if this is what he really wants before stomping on it, destroying it.

Acquired skin lesions similar to, yet more severe than, those caused by Enhanced strength and senses, abnormal limb growth, and an accelerated heart rate before his death; no beneficial effects observed

His as-of-yet unknown ability began manifesting immediately, making him extremely fast and strong (although appearing to have a reduced state of mind), similar to Enhanced strength and senses

Notes

There have been several versions of the formula. Prior to 1991, the Company had a version that was originally held by Kaito Nakamura's progenitors, and passed down to Kaito. In 1991, the formula was torn in two pieces--half was held by Kaito (and later Hiro Nakamura), and the other half was held by Angela Petrelli). Both Hiro's half and Angela's half were later destroyed. Mohinder also created his own, imperfect version of the formula, which was later destroyed. The catalyst, an essential "ingredient" to jump start the formula's actions correctly, was extinguished with the death of Arthur Petrelli and the burning of Pinehearst Headquarters.

Abilities given by the original formula appear to be indistinguishable from natural abilities:

Trivia

The main molecule that appears in the center of the document which contains the formula is the structure of maitotoxin, an extremely powerful toxin produced by a type of algae. The molecule of caffeine can also be seen in the bottom left.